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Jamal Collier
CHICAGO — The Bulls honored Derrick Rose by retiring his No. 1 jersey on Saturday night following a 106-103 win over the Boston Celtics.
Emotions ran high during the ceremony, with Rose shedding tears as his former teammates, Taj Gibson and Luol Deng, offered opening words. Following this, Rose gave a heartfelt speech acknowledging his mother, Brenda, his brothers, former teammates present, and the enthusiastic crowd in his Chicago hometown, with many fans remaining in their seats for over an hour post-game.
This marks Rose as the fifth Bulls player ever to have his number retired, joining the ranks of Jerry Sloan (No. 4), Bob Love (No. 10), Michael Jordan (No. 23), and Scottie Pippen (No. 33). The franchise also has banners recognizing former coach Phil Jackson and former general manager Jerry Krause.
“This journey was never just about me,” Rose stated prior to the game. “It was about creating a synergy that allows people from the city to draw inspiration from. Somehow, I became that beacon, that vessel through basketball.”
Even with the temperature plummeting to single digits in Chicago on Saturday, fans showed their dedication by lining up outside the United Center well before the game, eager for a glimpse of the evening’s star. A black T-shirt bearing Rose’s name and number was placed on every seat in the arena, with Bulls players donning the same shirt during warmups.
Approximately an hour before the game, Rose took to the court as fans eagerly lined up to capture photographs and videos. He practiced shots alongside his son while family members and former teammates gathered along the baseline and at center court.
“I’m just trying to soak in this moment,” Rose reflected. “Feeling thankful. Given the weather out there and the commitment of the fans, it’s incredible to see everyone show up for this event.”
A Chicago orchestra played the team’s introductory song, “SIRIUS” by the Alan Parsons Project, kicking off the postgame celebrations as fans chanted “M-V-P, M-V-P” throughout the evening. Many current Bulls players, including Coby White, Josh Giddey, Zach Collins, and rookie Noa Essengue, returned to the bench to witness the ceremony.
After sinking the pivotal 3-pointer with just one second remaining, Bulls guard Kevin Huerter expressed post-game that he contemplated leaping into his teammates’ arms, a nod to Rose’s iconic celebration after his game-winning shot in the 2015 playoffs against the Cavaliers.
Hailing from Chicago, Rose played eight seasons with the Bulls after being the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft. He earned the title of Rookie of the Year for the 2008-09 season and was selected for three All-Star teams. In 2011, he achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history.
A year prior, Rose expressed a desire for his jersey retirement to celebrate everyone involved. On Saturday, he reaffirmed this sentiment, acknowledging the bond forged with the fans.
“This was about all the people who came out to support my games,” Rose noted. “Somehow, we created a connection… it’s no coincidence that all this is happening and those who watched me play showed up today.”
The Bulls recognized Rose last January following his retirement at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, but the franchise chose to wait until now to retire his jersey.
“We wanted to honor him properly and take the necessary time to plan something truly special,” stated Bulls president Michael Reinsdorf to ESPN last week. “We could have done it last year, but I believe this is the right way to go about it. Giving him ample time to prepare and us time to build up to this significant day.”
Following the game, the Bulls showcased a video on the scoreboard featuring messages from Rose’s former teammates and NBA stars such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with insights from Rose’s family, friends, and fellow Chicagoans about his influence on their lives and the city.
Approximately 20 of his former teammates attended the Saturday ceremony. Rose spent the game in a suite with former teammates including Joakim Noah, Gibson, Deng, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, and coach Tom Thibodeau. Noah mentioned that the group gathered the night before the ceremony, which extended into the early hours of Saturday.
“Through countless nights and struggles, he was always by my side,” Gibson shared with the fans on Saturday night. “He was the teammate you could always count on, the one who’d say, ‘I got you’ whenever it mattered.”
This week, Rose was able to see the ceremonial banner for the first time at the United Center prior to its elevation to the rafters. He described the experience as “unreal” but added that he was still processing his feelings.
yet, those within the Bulls organization made it clear what Rose’s banner represented to them.
“Though we didn’t capture a championship, our fans loved that era of Chicago Bulls basketball,” Reinsdorf expressed. “Derrick is Chicago-born. He embodies the spirit of our city, playing for the community he grew up in and cares so deeply about.”
“This is eternal, man,” Deng told the crowd after the game. “When people reminisce about everything we endured — that’s our trophy. That’s our trophy, man.”
